Living full time out of a van is basically the most dirtbag you can get while still being able to function in society. You have access to your basic essentials in your little, portable box. You've got transportation and you have a comfortable bed to sleep in. While cheating the system and avoiding paying rent, you can save up more money to go towards adventures, travel, gear, and whatever your heart desires! So, why does my van life include goats, chickens, and a mini garden?
I have always been passionate about impacting the natural world as minimally as possible. From choosing a bamboo toothbrush and getting the majority of my clothes used, to eating organic and avoiding foods that contain palm oil. Every choice in your life has a more ecofriendly option; even when it comes to pets.
My pets take care of the majority of our compostable waste. My goats, Bergsteiger and Lachlan, eat most of the vegetable and fruit bits. They get the carrot greens, orange peels, banana peels, squash skins, and so on. My chickens, Maple and Autumn, get almost everything else. They consume most of the other scraps besides bones from our occasional invasive species meat meal. Those go to friend's dogs. And their sustainable benefits don't stop there!
The goats are the epitome of sustainable pets. They are vegetarians, eat a wide variety of things (including many invasive plants), can pack gear, provide fiber, produce compost, can pull a sled or human on skis, and are utterly delightful to live with! They are very intelligent and can be trained to do all sorts of things. Goats are not too different from dogs. Many goat breeds are larger than most dogs but they are cheaper to feed, don't have stinky poop, don't bite or bark, and can generally do more work than dogs. For example, on a camping trip, a dog can maybe carry it's food and bowl. Goats, on the other hand, can carry all of your camping gear and all you need to carry is your layers and some snacks. Goats also eat lower on the food chain, while dogs need meat. Best of all, goats provide endless entertainment.
The chickens are easy to keep once they are comfortable with you and easy to catch. My girls were quite easy to train where to lay their eggs. The hardest part was keeping them out of my mini garden; I lost a few veggie starts to them last year! Other than that, they eat food scraps, produce compost, eat a wide variety of things, and provide a constant protein source. Better yet, my girls lay pretty blue and green speckled eggs! I supplement them with organic chicken food and scraps from leftover meals. I aim to teach my hens how to ride on the goats when on a backcountry outing. That way, I don't have to worry about breaking eggs or keeping them fresh if we're out for an extended amount of time. However, predator protection is still in the works. They may gain a spot in the tent with me if they ever leave their chicken diapers on.
Last up is the mini garden. It doesn't take up much space. All vehicles have windows and therefore access to an endless supply of free energy! I put my herbs and carrots in the front and sprouts and micro greens on the side window near my 'kitchen.' I have two planters worth of various veggies and two jars for sprouting. The planters mostly produce micro greens but have yielded some small carrots and peas. Next to that are two sprouting jars I mounted near the window. I sprout beans and various seeds. In the front of my van is my herb garden and carrot jar. I use an old spaghetti sauce jar to yield about five carrots that make for a great driving snack or salad topping. In front of the passenger seat is the herb section. This includes cilantro, rosemary, basil, chives, borage, and two herbs I choose for that year. I couldn't find any photos of my mini side garden in action but here's some of the herbs in action! Every bit of food grown in my van is a handful less that I buy from the store.
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